The beauty industry is witnessing an evolution due to non-injectable skin tightening treatments. These revolutionary procedures provide a “needle-free” solution to get youthful and firmer skin.
These innovative treatments use radiofrequency and HIFU technologies to enhance your skin’s natural repair process and boost collagen without injections. These treatments target fine lines and sagging and enhance skin texture and elasticity over time, which is appealing.
Further elaborating on non-injectable skin tightening treatments is Dr Niti Gaur, Board Certified Dermatologist and Founder of Citrine Clinic, Gurgaon.
In conversation with AMI Editor Shriyal Sethumadhavan, she discusses everything from debunking myths to sharing tips and tricks surrounding non-injectable skin tightening treatments.
Let’s begin with needle fear. What common myths or misconceptions do your patients have about non-injectable skin tightening treatments vs injectables?
The most common misconception is that non-injectable treatments just do not work, which is not true. This is the biggest misconception I encounter. Many people also believe these treatments will eventually need to be combined with other interventions.
But that’s not true for most cases if the treatment is done properly. To better understand this, we need to talk about how ageing happens. If you choose the right modality for the specific ageing mechanism, why wouldn’t you get results from an energy-based device? It’s all about selecting the right intervention for the correct indication.
In terms of effectiveness and results, how do non-injectable skin tightening treatments differ from injectable treatments?
With injectables, we’re going deeper, especially with fillers or threads. We’re targeting volume loss and repositioning fat with threads. Non-injectables don’t penetrate as deeply but stimulate the skin’s natural repair mechanism, boosting collagen production.
This helps the skin become plumper, firmer, and improves elasticity and texture by stimulating your own skin. With injectables, you’re externally assisting the skin by injecting a product or placing a thread. Non-injectables stimulate your own cells for a longer-lasting effect, which is more preventive and aligns with true anti-ageing.
When deciding whether to recommend a non-injectable skin tightening treatment, how do you assess a patient’s skin type or profile?
If a patient is scared of injections, I always suggest they start with an energy-based treatment to get comfortable. Once they see results, they are often more open to taking the next step. For younger people, I also recommend energy-based treatments since aging isn’t just about age—it’s affected by stress and lifestyle.
We’re seeing aging signs appear 10 to 15 years earlier than in previous generations. So, when someone starts feeling their skin’s repair mechanism slowing down, that’s when intervention is needed. Energy-based treatments can be the first step, and if there’s volume loss later, we can consider injectables.
When we discuss radiofrequency or ultrasound-based techniques, how do they contribute to skin tightening, and how do they differ?
In most clinics, including mine, we use monopolar radiofrequency and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU). Both stimulate collagen production. Monopolar radiofrequency is more superficial, so it’s ideal for plumping the skin and improving texture where there’s superficial volume loss.
HIFU, on the other hand, penetrates deeper into the skin layers, targeting firmness and improving sagging. So, RF addresses fine lines and superficial texture, while HIFU targets deeper layers for lifting and firmness.
Are there any other non-injectable skin tightening treatments you would like to highlight?
In addition to RF and HIFU, we also have fractional CO2 lasers, which create micro-injuries that trigger tissue remodeling and collagen production. Microneedling with radiofrequency is another option, creating similar micro-injuries.
Plasma therapy using the patient’s own growth factors, and fractionated Q-switched lasers for texture and pigmentation improvements are also effective. More advanced treatments like exosomes and polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) therapies are emerging, too.
How do you manage patient expectations, particularly regarding the timeline of results from non-injectable treatments vs injectables?
Injectables give faster results since you’re directly adding volume or repositioning fat, and patients can see an immediate effect. Non-injectables work by stimulating the body’s natural collagen production, so it takes time for the skin to repair and rebuild itself.
There might be some initial plumpness from the inflammation caused by the procedure, but the results build gradually over one to six months. It’s important to set realistic expectations about this timeline with patients.
How do you handle patients who want quick results but, for whatever reason, you recommend non-injectable treatments instead of injectables?
If someone has a social event coming up soon, I usually recommend non-injectable treatments because they have minimal downtime. Injectables can cause bruising or swelling, which can take time to settle, whereas energy-based treatments don’t have those side effects.
If there’s more time to work with, I prefer starting with non-injectable treatments and adding injectables later if needed.
You have discussed a few techniques, but are there any recent advancements that you see trending or expect to impact your practice?
Yes, exosomes, PDRNs, and polynucleotides. These DNA-based treatments are gaining popularity. Some of us have already introduced them in India after seeing them abroad, and they’re showing promise in healing tissues and offering long-lasting results.
These treatments are going to have a significant impact as they become more widespread.
When new treatments are introduced, do doctors like yourself undergo specific training to keep up with advancements?
Absolutely. We never stop learning. Attending international conferences helps us stay updated, and we make it a point to get trained either here or abroad before implementing new treatments. Training is essential because we’re dealing with human health, so you need to fully understand the procedure before practicing it.
Let’s talk about post-treatment care. What do you recommend for patients after non-injectable skin tightening treatments?
Post-treatment care depends on the treatment, but I always recommend using sunscreen and a good moisturizer. Depending on the treatment, I might also add retinol or ceramide-based products for repair, or oral collagen supplements. But sunscreen and moisturizer are always a must.
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